Electric regulator.



G. MACHLET, JR.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1912.

Patented May 29, 1917.

7SHEETSSHEET I.

G. MACHLET, JR.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1912.

Patented May 29, 1917.

7$HEETSSHEET Z.

G. IVIACHLET, JR.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1912.

1,227,921. Patented May 29,1917.

'i SHEETSSHEET 3.

e. MACHLET, JR.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I, 1912.

Patented May 29, 1917.

7SHEETS-SHEET 4.

G. MACHLET, JR.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I. I9I2.

Patented May 29, 1917.

7SHE ETS-SHEET 5.

G. MACHLET, JR.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1912.

1,227,921, Patented May29,1917.

YSHEETS-SHEET 6.

EiE Q Patented May 29, 1917.

7 SHEETSSHEET 7.

a OFIQ GEORGE MACHLET, JE E ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

ntnornic REGULATOR.

Application filed July 1,

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE MAOHLET, Jr, a citizen of the United States,residin in Elizabeth, in thecounty of Union and tate of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Regulators, ofwhich the following is a specification'.

, This invention is an illustration of one form of mechanism covered bycertain claims in my co-pending application No. 464:,140, filed November23, 1908, (Patent No. 1,033,816, dated July 30, 1912), in which isdisclosed a voltmeter and a regulating de vice which is dependent uponthe position of the needle of the voltmeter for regulating the conditionof a work-apparatus.

In-the present case there is illustrated an 'electrically heatedfurnace; and the invention relates largely to means for controllingelectrical currents, whether employed for heating a furnace or otherpurposes. Certain of the features of the present improvements arehowever, applicable also to regula tors for fuel burning furnaces, andto many other kinds of wor -apparatus, whether electrical or of otherkinds.

In said patent, there is shown a primepath of the needle; but upon thetactor being arrested by engagement with the needle, a shifting oradjustment is efi'ected of the regulating device; while co; ;urrentlythere is called into operation acompanion tactor, which operates toshift the regulating device in the opposite direction as soon as thevoltmeter needle has receded a little; either tactor being silencedwhile the other is active.

According to one feature of the present improvements, the regulatingdevice is in the form of a rheostat, which is connected in an electricalmain running to an electrical furnace, so that the heat of the furnacemay be regulated. This rheostat has a movable arm or contact, which isgiven a stepby-step movement by the primemoving member of the improvedregulator, so as to either throw in or take out resistance, and therebyreduce or increase the heat of the furnace, accord Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented May 29, 11.917.

1912. Serial No. 706,951.

whereby the current insaid main will be rendered self-regulative.

The movable arm of the rheostat is connected to a ratchet which isoperated in either one direction or the other by means of a double pawlwhich is connected directly to a prime-mover. This pawl is normally heldby a spring out of engagement with the ratchet.

There is also employed a tumbler which is connected to said prime-moverto be reciprocated thereby, but which, under ordinary conditions, isarrested prematurely in each stroke, so that its movements are usuallyidle; said tumbler having a' yielding connection to the prime mover, topermit the latter to complete its operation independently of thetumbler. Whenever either tactor is arrested by contact with thevoltmeter needle, the tumbler is permitted to complete its stroke in onedirection, and during such completion of the stroke, the tumbler forcesthe pawl into engagement with the ratchet, so that the'latter is given a-movement, whereby the rheostat' arm is turned or adjusted. Duringsucceeding movements of the prime-mover, the pawl acts repeatedly,giving the ratchet wheel and the rheostat step-by-step movements.

This adjustment of the rheostat can occur in either direction, accordingto which of the tactorsis active at the time. A; the conclusion of thetravel of the rheostat members in either direction, the active tactor islatched out of use, and the other tactor is caused to I The prime movermay comprise a rotary electrical or other motor, and in the presentinstance this motor is shown as geared to a reciprocating head, whichhas connections directly to said tumbler and to said rheos'tat-adjustingpawl. The prime mover'may, however, be used in connection with otherforms of regulating devices, and the same is trueof the tumblermechanism, and of the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism herein disclosed.

- @ther features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective flowing through the main so thatthe cur-- rent may be directly self-governing.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, illustrating the manner in which thetumbler connects to the ratchet wheel the pawl which is operated by theprime mover, whereby the ratchet wheel and rheostat may be adjusted orgiven a movement of one step at the ensuing stroke of the prime mover.

Fig. 3 is a part sectional elevation of the invention, showing thereciprocating primemoving head as about midway of its down stroke afterthe ratchet wheel has been given a movement of one step in clockwisedirection from its normal position; the shifter being shown in itsmidway position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the method by which apawl is brought into action to move the ratchet wheel in clockwisedirection; the parts-being shown at the completion of the down strokefrom the Fig. 3 position.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the tactor mechanism and tumbler,voltmeter and furnace. I

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the parts seen at Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 to 11 are diagrammatic end elevations of the tactors and movingneedle; Fig. 8 showing the needle midway between the tactors, thuspermitting motion of both of them at the operation of the tumbler;

Fig. 9 showing one tactor latched up out of the path of the needle whilethe other tactor is beating down into said path; Fig. 10 showing theneedle as arresting the lower tactor of Fig. 9: and Fig. 11 showing thesame tactor as latched up out of use while the other tactor is beatingdown into the path of the needle.

Fig. 12 shows the pawl being idly moved at the down stroke of thetumbler and prime mover; the tactor which is not shown in this figurebeing latched up out of use,

as at Fig. 8, and the ratchet wheel being shown as having made arevolution; the shifter being in one of its extreme positions. Fig.13,1ike Fig. 12 shows the shifter in one extreme position, but it showsthe tactor in the other extreme position, at the conclusion of theupstroke of the prime mover.

Fig. 14. illustrates the manner in which the switch is turned to amidway idle p0 sition at the beginning of the operation of adjusting therheostat.

Fig. 15 shows the switch as turned to the opposite extreme position fromFig. 12,

whereby the first tactor is silenced, and the other tactor is broughtinto operation. At this figure, the prime mover is understood as beingat the bottom of its stroke.

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 12, but showing the other tactor andsear instead of the tactor and sear seen at Fig. 12.

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 12, but showing the beginning of thereturn movement of part 18 Fig. 18 shows the parts in the same positionsas at Fig. 14:, and illustrates the other tactor and sear in place ofthose seen at Fig. 14.

Fig. 19 shows the pawl as shifted into engagement with the ratchetwheel, to ad just the rheostat in the opposite direction from thatillustrated at Fig. 141.

Fig. 20 illustrates the shifter as having been turned back to a midwayidle position as at Fig. 14:.

Fig. 21 is a diagram toindicate the positions of the needle and tactorteeth when the parts are approximately in the Fig. 16 position, that is,to show where the needle is at this time; Fig. 22 similarly correspondswith Fig. 17 Fig. 23 with Fig. 18; and Figs. 24 and 25 with Figs. 19 and20.

The invention is herein shown as applied,

to means for regulating anelectrical current. For convenience, there isherein illustrated an electrical furnace which is heated by theregulated current of electricity. It will be understood that theinvention or certain features thereof may be used for regulatingelectrical currents for other purposes. It will also be observed thatcertain features of the regulating device may be used for effectingother regulation than that of electrical currents.

There is shown diagrammatically an electrical furnace 1 to whichlead theelectric mains 2. In the furnace is inserted an element 3 from whichlead wires 4 and 5 to a voltmeter or other galvanometer 6, said wiresbeing connected to a pivoted rotating coil 7, to which is attached, inthe ordinary manner, a needle or indicator 8, which moves along a scale9 to show the condition or heat of the furnace.

A lever 10 is caused by a prime mover to vibrate up and down, to cause atooth or projection .11 on its free end to dip into and out of the pathof the moving needle 8, and is intended to cooperate with said needle atthe proper time to reduce or cut off the current in the mains 2, toreduce the heat of the furnace. The tooth 11 is .intended to beintercepted by the needle, whereby the lever'or tactor 10 is arrested,and the desired regulation of the main current is effected.

The tactor 10 is caused to. beat by means of an electric or other motoror prime mover 12, a reciprocating slide 13, a tumbler 14 and a scar 15.The motor 12 may be connear/par nected by pinion 16 and gear 17 to shaft18, and on the latter may be provided a disk 19 having a wrist 20, Fig.3, providedwith a block 21 to slide in a groove 22 provided in a crosshead 23 fixed upon the lower end of slide 13, whereby the latter isdriven up and down with moderate speed at the operation of the motor 12.At its top the slide carries a head 24 to which is pivoted at 25 ayielding link or connection 26, the lower end of which engages a wrist2'? provided upon said tumbler 14:, whereby the latter may be rocked toand fro. The tumbler is pivoted the tactor 10. The provision of theuniver- Sal joint permits the adjustment of the tee tor along the scale9, as will presently appear. The tactor member is pivoted between itsends at 33 upon a support 34 in the voltmeter box 6.

As the tumbler 14 is turned toward the right or clockwise at Fig. 3 bythe upwardly moving connection 26, a finger 35 on the sear ridesdown aninclined edge 36 formed on the lower side of an opening in the tumbler,and-reaches the position seen at Fig. 13; the tactor 10 or its tooth 11having, during this movement, dipped idly into the path of the voltmeterneedle 8.

The link or connection 26 tends to raise or turn the tumbler 14 fartherin the same direction during the completion of the up stroke of thereciprocating'slide 13; but the 1 tumbler or rocker 14 is arrested bythe engagement of said sear finger 35 with a stop 35 torming the end orthe notch in the tumbler 1i; and hence is given only a limited. idlestroke; said slide 13 completing its up stroke independently of thetumbler 1%,

To permit this independent movement of e slide, the link or connection26 refer i loly made in the form hook, hav

open notch to 1*, strong spring is in the path of said pin to, Fig. 12.This arm is shiftahle out of the path of the pin 40, to permitadditional movement of the tumbler 14, as will presently be explained.

During the remainder of the down stro e of the slide 13, the link orhook 26 descends idly, an inclined edge d2 of the notch therein ridingupon the wrist 27. Upon the succeeding upstroke of the reciprocatingslide 13, the same moves idly until the notch in the hook 26 catchesupon the wrist 27, to drive the rocker or tumbler 14 toward the rightuntil arrested by the finger 35 of the sear 15; and these motions arerepeated idly, the tactor 10 or its tooth 11 dipping into and out of thepath of the needle, until, owing to the heating up of the furnace 1, theneedle 8 reaches a position beneath the tooth 11 on said tactor 10, asseen at Fig. 14.

The needle 8, of course, is yielding, and is carried down by thedescending tooth 11 until it rests upon the edges of the groove 43 inthe voltmeter into which the tactor dips. The tactor is hence arrested,and in conse quence, the finger of sear 35 cannot dip into the.depression 39 of the tumbler 1d, and hence cannot catch upon the stop orshoulder 35 and cannot arrest the tumbler 1 1, which accordingly isswung up to the cxtreme limit of its stroke.

There is brought into play during this additional or final portion ofthe stroke of the rocker 14, a cam or other shifter 4 to swing towardthe right a pawl 45, which is pivoted at its upper end at 46 to therising and ialling head 24-, and is normally held by a spring il awayfrom pins or teeth i8 forming a ratchet wneel 48, which is fixed upon ashaft d9, upon which is also fixe tary member 50 of a rheostat 51, whichis in circuit with the mains 2 leading t l e regulated, and the heat 0"the right, so that a tooth 53 thereon, Fig, 2, engages one of the pins48 of the ratchet wheel 48 in preparation for rotating said ratchetcounterclockwise at Fig. 2, during the ensuing downstroke of the primaryslide 13.

During the next stroke of the slide 13, therefore, the ratchet wheel 48and the rheostat contact are driven counterclockwise at Figs. 1 and 2 toan extent equal to the interval between two teeth on the ratchet wheel,or say one-sixth of a revolution, so that the revolving contact 50 isshifted to the next contact 52, thereby throwing more resistance intothe power circuit 2, and reducing the heat of the furnace, or at leastchecking the increase of the heat thereof.

It will be understood that as the tumbler 1e continues to rock up anddown, the tooth l1 intermittently releases the needle 8 to permit thelatter to retrace its movement in case the furnace cools. To secure thereleasing of the needle, the. point or upper end of the cam edge 36 ismade higher than the stop 35, that is, closer to the pivot 28 of thetumbler 14, so that while the finger of the sear may escape said stop,so as to permit full upward movement of the rocker, it is still.possible to be engaged by the cam edge during the downstroke oi therocker, whereby the tooth 11 is lifted and the needle 8 is released.

in order to maintain the heat of the furace at the desired point, asecond heater or actor 5% is provided, having a tooth 55 'to the needle,and having an arm 56 connected by a universal joint 57 to an arm 58provided upon a sear 59 which has a ger or tooth 60 to fall into notchon the upper edge of the rocker 14, one edge of said notch constitutinga stop 61, and the ot er edge (if?) of said notch forming a cam to raisethe sear and the tactor st in opposition to the tension of its spring63.

lit will be understood that while the neeis under the tooth 11 of onetactor, the

tactor will beat repeatedly at the conocking of the tumbler it,occasioned 's of the slide or prime r The sear togeta;

ay be maintained out h' seen other purposes.

is swung to a position of disuse (see Fig. 14), so that it can no longerarrest the rocker 14; but the latter is nevertheless arrested by meansof the finger 60 on the sear 59, so that the counterclockwise stroke ofthe tumbler 14 is shortened, for a purpose which will presently appear.

The members 41, 61-, 67 at Fig. 1t are midway between their extremepositions, as will also presently appear; but the arm (it isnevertheless far enough down at this time to permit the sear 59 tooperate.

As so far described, the ratchet wheel 48 and itsassociated rheostatcontact 50 have taken only one step; but it will be understood thatduring the next cycle of movements of the tumbler let, said ratchetwheel and rheostat contact will be given another stroke, and that thecounterclockwise revolution of said members will continue stepby-step,each step throwing more resistance into the main circuit 2, until saidresistance reaches maximum, or until the current is completely shut oil.A revolution of the rheostat contact 50 through 300 degrees may eiiectan opening of the circuit 2, if desired.

It will be understood that the regulating device may be operated inconnection with any desired rheostat or combined rheostat and circuitopener, or other electrical device. It will also be understood that theratchet Wheel may be used for gradually closing and opening, or -forgradually rotating in the opposite direction any other kind or"regulator, Whether used for regiiilating electricity, or for regulatingthe flow of air, or fuel, or liquid, or for gradually effecting Member50 may be loose on shaft 49, and a fork 50 fixed on the shaft mayturn-idly during tlie first step of wheel 48 in either direction, andthen engage the member 50 to rotate it step-by-step through 300 dec eesonly.

If no heat of the furnace 1 does not diminish promptly, the needle 8will remain under the tooth ll the first tactor (the second tactorbeating meanwhile) until after the ratchet wneel nas made a completecounterclockwise olution. lluring the last of said olution, the tappct(ill on said ratchet engages an arm 68, which may be i i l with e (lnearest said tumbler is therefore limited in one direction by the stoparm 41, and in the opposite direction by the finger or tooth (it) on thesear 59; the hook 26 yielding at both the top and bottom .of the stroketo permit the member 13 to finish'its stroke in each direction.

lit will be understood that the shifter t l can no longer reach the pawl-l-5, and hence the latter cannot be thrown into engagement with any ofthe pins of the ratchet wheel t-S so that the latter ceases to rotate,and the rheostat member 50 remains in engagement with the contact 71which is connected to the greatest resistance, or which may be a mereinsulating device, so that the 'main circuit is broken.

The primary member 13, 24, and the tumbler 1% will now move up and downidly, and the tactor 541 will dip idly into the pat of the needle 8,until by reason of the cooling of the furnace, the latter swings backfar enough to intercept the tooth on the te ter 54, whereby the same isarrested, so tha. tooth 60 on the sear 59 'cannot descend r enough toengage the stop 61 on the tumbler 14, thus permitting the hook 26 to.swing said tumbler downwardly or counterclockwise, to its extremeposition, 19.

At this time, a shifter 73 fixed on said tumbler i l, engages the hook(the being at the bottom of its stroke) and pushe the latter intoengagement with one of th teeth or pins 48 of the ratchet wheel, as atFig. i; said pawl having a lower tooth to engage beneath the pins orteeth 4-8, lift the same and rotate the ratchet 48* toward the right orclockwise, during the ensuing up stroke of the primary member 13, 2%.The ratchet wheel @8 and the rheostat member 50 are accordingly turnedthrough one-sixth of a revolution, and the tappet 66 on said wheelengages an arm of the shifter device, to rock said shifter to a midwayposition (see Fig. The switch device may be held frictionally in any oits rotative positions, either by mal zing lit tightly in its bearings,by other su. able means; and the same is true of whee 48 and. of therheostat he movemen of the sl position withdraws the arm 87 thereon suficiently to permit the sear 15 to resume its activity, whereby thetactor it i r caused to beat, and whereby into engagement with theratchet wheel, when said hook is in its uppermost position, and hencethe hook can only act to turn the ratchet wheel 18 in clockwisedirection.

At the completion of each downstroke, the shifter 73 reconnects thelower tooth 7% of the hook with one of the. teeth of the ratchet wheel,so that the latter is intermittently rotated, thus operating through therheostat to gradually reduce the resistance in the electric mains, andthereby to increase the heat of the furnace.

Tf the needle 8, however, does not promptly respond, the operation ofturning the wheel 48 and the rheostat clockwise will continue until thesame reach their initial positions; the tappet 6t finally engaging thearm 68 and swinging the shifter device from its midway position at Fig.3 to its extreme position at Fig. 12, whereupon arms 6% raise the sear59 sufficiently to lift the tactor to the extreme position at Fig. 19,lifting not only the tooth 55, but apendent guard 70 thereon, out of thepath of the needle 8. At the same time, mop arm 4-1 is brought intoposition to cooperate with the pin l0 to limit the stroke of the tumblerNeither of the shifters 44 73 can now swing the hook L5, and hence thelatter rides up and down idly, its spring 4'? pressing it lightlyagainst the hub of the tumbler 1%.

Since the heat of furnace increases, the needle 8 moves forward again,and the cycle of operations is repeated. will be that the connectionsand operations of the tactors 10 and 5% are substantially the same.

The needle 8 of the voltmeter thus moves from zero position up to thefield of the duplex tactor mechanism, and then has slight oscillation insaid field from one tactor to the other, whereby the heat of the furnaceor the regulation of the electric current is maintained withinexceedingly close limits.

The support for the tactor levers is in the form of a lug cast upon-ahollow or cuplike support 82 sunken below the cover 83 of the voltmeterbox, and consisting of two I parts 84 and 85, formed to catch over thetop and bottom edges of a circular hole 86 formed in said cover, saidpart fitting in said hole, and the latter being concentric to therotative axis of the needle 8. ioaid parts 8% and are rigidly joined byscrews 8? form a hollow bushing, or a swiveled sup porting head for thetactor levers. The uni versal joints of said levers with the ser leversare in the bottom of the cup, in pronimity to the axis of movement theswiveled head, so that the head may be swung either direction withoutdisturb nection between the tactor let.

levers.

Ki i.

arl

Any desired adjustment of the tactor levers may be efi'ected by turninga finger piece 89, provided upon the end of a horizontal shaft 90,journaled in bearings 91 on said cover, and having at its inner end aworm 92 in mesh with a segment of a worm wheel 93 formed upon the topcup member 84. By turning said finger piece 89, the tactor levers may beadjusted to any desired point on the 10 usual voltmeter scale 9, thusproviding for any required heat of the furnace or regulation of the mainelectrical current; and the needle will automatically move to saidpoint, and the heat of the furnace will remain substantially at thatpoint for an indefinite time.

The tactor' lever arms 32, 56, extend through a small hole 94 in thewall of the lower member 85 of the cup.

Fig. 12 shows the clockwise limit of the wheel 48* and the rheostat arm-50, at which position all of the resistance is out of the circuit. Whenthe shifter is at the extreme position seen at Fig. 12, the tactor 10,11, beats u and down idly, the same being shown n this figure as at thetop of its stroke. It will be understood that the prime mover 18, 14 isnow at the bottom of its stroke; the tumbler 14 having been arrested byengagement of its pin with arm 41 of the shifter, and the link 26 havingslipped past the stud 27, in completing its stroke after the arrest ofthe tumbler l l.

In Fig. 13, the position of the shifter 41 is the same, but the tactoris seen at the bot- "om ofits stroke; the'prime mover 24:, 13 eingunderstood to be at the top of its 57 eke, and the link 26 having againslipped 1 st the stud 27 on the tumbler 14, to comlete its upstroke;the'tumbler being at this ime arrested by the engagement of the with theabrupt end 35 of the the tumbler. Hence while the l is the position seenin these ctor' (not sh van in th se two views) is latched up by the arm64-, as seen at F 1g. iso indicated diagrammatically te the left fromposition and arrests the the sear tooth the tumbler 14:, d to completeon, so that the l 7% into c i of the ratchet ownwardiy s about midter toits idle midway position at Fig. 14, the arm 64 simultaneously droppingor releasing the companion sear 59 (see Fig. 18), whereby the tactortooth is permitted. to beat down into the path of the needle 8. Inconsequence, the finger 60 of the sear 59 is enabled to drop into thenotch 62 and arrest the tumbler 14, so that the latter cannot completeits counterclockwise stroke, and hence the spring 47 (see Fig. 4) can atthe 0on clusion of the downstroke (or beginning of the upstroke) of theprime mover, withdraw the pawl 74: from the ratchet Wheel, and hold saidpawl away from said ratchet wheel during the idle upstroke of the primemover. From this, it will be understood that during successivereeiprocations of the prime mover, the pawl 74 will impart successivestep-by-step movements to the ratchet wheel 48?; each time giving it astroke of say one- 35 sixth of a revolution in a counterclockwisedirection.

' At Fig. 10, the needle 8 is now shown as caught under the tactor tooth11; but it will be understood that said tactor tooth 11 continues tobeat up and down to a limited extent, releasing the needle 8 at everystroke, to permit the same to swing toward the tactor tooth 55, in casethe heat of the furnace rapidly diminishes; and said needle may arriveat a position midway between the two teeth 11 and 55, in which eventboth tactors will beat up and down, either being ready to engage theneedle. 7 If the withdrawal of the needle 8 from the tooth 11 thusoccurs before the ratchet wheel and rheostat maize a completerevolution, the teeth 35 will again be able to arrest the tumbler 1%, sothat the latter cannot make a full stroke in clockwise direction, andhence the pawl 7-lwill be wholly disabled, and the rheostat arm willmaintain its last adjustment until there is further fluctuation in theheat tion or the other, accord' of the fluctuation in the will be seenthat both teeth are hooked, so as to hold th at with the ratcl t l .CliGthe pawl 1 assuming,

n under naaaear tooth 11 of the associated tactor being held above theneedle 8, as at Fig. 11, so as to permit the needle to swing beneath andbeyond the guard 7 0 onsaid tooth, in case the heat of the furnacecontinues to increase tem porarily.

While the shifter is in the Fig. 15 position, the tactor 54 may continueto beat up and down idly between the positions seen at Figs. 18 and 20;the arm 41, by engagement with the pin 71, limiting the stroke of thetumbler 14 in one direction, while the sear finger 60, by engagementwith the shoulder 61 on the tumbler, limits the stroke of the latter inthe opposite direction.

This idle beating ofthe 'tactor, 54 continues until the furnace coolssuliiciently to cause the needle 8 to swing to the position at Fig. 24,whereby the tactor 54 is prevented from completing its downstroke, andhence the sear finger 60 is held up clear of the shoulder 61, andtherefore the tumbler 14 is permitted to complete its downstroke,whereby the shifter 7 4, at the conclusion of the downstroke of theprime mover 13, 2d, swings the pawl 74 into engagement with a tooth ofthe ratchet wheel 48, to turn the same in clockwise direction during theensuing upstroke of said prime mover 13, 24..

During this initial return movement of the ratchet wheel 48 the pin 66engages arm 81 on the shifter 41, and swingsthe said switch to themidway position illustrated at Fig. 14, whereby the finger 69 on theshifter arm 67'is caused to release the sear 15, and hence the tactor10, 11 is permitted to beat up and down, so that the needle 8 isintermittently released. The needle may then proceed to a positionbetween the two tactors, whereupon both will make full .up and downstrokes, as already explained. If, however, the needle does not swing,the pawl 74 continues to work the ratchet wheel and rheostat armarounduntil the pin 66 reaches the Fig. 12 posit on, thus completing thecycle of adjustments.

At Fig. 1 the voltmeter is shown diagrammatically as connected with theelectrio main, and it will be understood that the same tactor and primemoving mecha== nism is employed as in the other views, to control thecurrent 1n said main. 6

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions oi the improvements may be used without others,

Having thus described my invention, ll

6 claim cuit, a member caused to dip repeatedly and;

frequently into the path of said needle, means connected to said dippingmember and rendered effective by the cotiperation ,member, and a scaleto cooperate with said needle throughout its range of movement, toindicate the condition of the work-apparatus.

2. The combination of a main electrical circuit, a current regulator insaid circuit, an electrical furnace in said circuit, a volt: meterhaving a movable needle or part, a voltmeter circuit having anelement insaid furnace, and means, inclusive of a member caused to dip repeatedlyandfrequently into the path of said needle, for adjusting said currentregulator; said needle being movable freely past said dipping member.

3. The combination with an electrical heating apparatus, of a movableindicator to show the temperature of the apparatus, a prime mover, meansconnected therewith to dip repeatedly into the path of said in= dicator,a 'rheostat, and a step-by-step rheostat-operating mechanism set .intorepeated action by means of the engagement of said dipping part and saidindicator, and having means to control the electrical current to saidheating apparatusj said indicator movable past said dipping part.

' 4. The combination of a movable indicator, a tactor, a rheostat, aprime mover, means operable thereby and tending repeatedly to operatesaid rheostat, asear controlled by' said tactor and efiective at themovement of the latter into the path "of said indicator to prevent theoperation of said rheostat, and means controlled by said ratchet, andmeans controlled by said ratchet to regulate a work apparatus whosecondition is shown by said indicator.

means between said motor and said regulating device, including a springnormally rendering":.said connecting means ineffective, a tumbleryieldingly connected to said motor, means controlled by the tumbler forrendering said connecting means efiective, a vol meter having a movableneedle, a tactor caused by said tumbler to beat into and out of the pathof the needle, said tactor being efi ective', when beating in the pathofthe needle, to arrest said tumbler and prevent it from rendering saidconnecting means effective.

7. The combination of a driver or prime mover, a regulating device, aconnecting means between said driver and said regulating device,including a spring normally rendering said connecting means ineffective,a tumbler, a yielding device operated by said driver to rock. saidtumbler to and fro, means controlled by the tumbler for rendering saidconnecting means efi ective, a voltmeter having a movable needle, atactor caused by said tumbler to beat into and out of the path of theneedle, said tactor, when beating in the path of the needle, beingeffective to arrest said tumbler and prevent it from rendering saidconnecting means effective.

8. The combination of a driver, a regulating device, a pawl and ratchetbetween said driver and said regulating device for operating the latter,a spring normally holding the pawl away from the ratchet, a tumbler, ayielding connection between said tumbler and said driver, said tumblerhaving means to move said pawl into engagement with the ratchet, avoltmeter having a movable needle, a tactor caused by said tumbler toheat into and out of the path of the needle, said tactor beingeffective, when beating in the path of the needle, to arrest saidtumbler and prevent it from engaging said pawl with said ratchet.

9. The combination of a regulating device, a rocker having means tocontrol said regulating device, a prime mover having a yieldingconnection to said rocker, a voltmeter having a movable needle, atactor, a spring tending to move said tactor into the path of saidneedle, said rocker permitting the tactor to dip into the path of saidneedle, and means associated with said tactor and operative at suchmovement of the latter for arresting the rocker, and thereby renderingthe prime mover ineffective to cause a complete operation of saidrocker, so that the latter does not cause amovement of said regulatingdevice.

10. The combination of a device having a movable needle or indicatingpart, a tactor movable into the path of the needle, a sear connected tosaid tactor, a tumbler engageable by said sear, a prime mover, ayielding device connecting said prime mover to said tumbler toreciprocate the same, said tumbler acting upon said sear to cause thetactor to dip into the path of the needle, and being also arrestable bysaid sear at such movement of the tumbler, and regulating meanscontrollable by the tumbler at the final part or" the stroke thereofeffected by said yielding connection, when said sear is prevented fromarresting said tumbler by reason of the engagementof the tactor with theneedle.

11. The combination of a regulating device, a constantly revolvingmotor, a reciprocating member driven by said motor, a normallydisconnected connecting means between said reciprocating member and saidregulating device, a yielding device also operated by said reciprocatingmember and tending to connect said connecting means to said regulatingdevice, a voltmeter having a movable needle, a tactor caused by saidyielding device to beat into and out of the path of said needle, andmeans connected to said tactor and effective when the tactor dips intosaid path, to restrain said yielding device and prevent the fulloperation thereof, whereby when the tactor is arrested by contact withsaid needle, 3, full operation of the yielding device isefiiected bysaid reciprocating member, and the regulating device is consequentlyconnected to said reciprocating member to be operated thereby.

12. The combination of a prime mover, a tumbler operable thereby, amovable needle or part, a tactor caused by said tumbler to beat into thepath of said needle, said tactor having means to arrest said tumbler,and the tumbler being free to complete its movement when said tactor isarrested by the needle, a

regulating device, means for enabling said tumbler to connect saidregulating device to said prime mover to be actuated thereby,-

and means shifted by said regulating device said tactor having means toarrest said tumbler, and the tumbler being free to complete its movementwhen said tactor is arrested by the needle, a regulating device, meansfor enabling said tumbler to effect repeated connections between saidregulating device and said prime mover, so that the regulating device.is given a step-by-step movement, and means eventually operated by saidregulating device to cause the tumbler to cease connecting the primemover to the regulating device.

14. The combination of a prime mover, a tumbler having a yieldingconnection to said prime mover, an indicator having a movable needle orpart, a tactor caused by said tumbler to beat into the path of said.needle, said tactor having means to arrest said tumbler, and the tumblerbeing free to complete its movement when said tactor is arrested by theneedle, a rotary regulating device, a normally idle pawl connected tosaid prime mover for'operating said regulating device, means forenabling said tumbler to eiiect step-by-step operation of saidregulating device by said pawl, and means eventually operated by saidregulating de- I tion of the movement of the tumbler, and

vice to cause the tumbler to cease connecting the pawl to the regulatingdevice.

15. The combination of a prime mover, a tumbler having a yieldingconnection to said prime mover, an indicator having a movable needle orpart, a tactor caused by said tumbler to heat into the path of saidneedle, said tactor having means to arrest said tumbler, and the tumblerbeing free to complete its movement when said tactor is arrested by theneedle, a regulating device having a ratchet, a pawl connected to saidprime mover for operating said ratchet, a spring normally holding saidpawl away from said ratchet, and a shifter connected to said tumbler toengage said pawl, at the completion of the movement of the tumbler, andmove said pawl into engagement with said ratchet.

16. The combinationof a prime mover, a tumbler having a yieldingconnection to said prime mover, an indicator having a movable needle orpart, a tactor caused by said tumbler to heat into the path of saidneedle, said tactor having means to arrest said tumbler, and the tumblerbeing free to I complete its movement when said tactor is arrested bythe needle, a regulating device having a ratchet, a pawl connected tosaid prime mover for operating said ratchet, a spring normally holdingsaid pawl away from said ratchet, a shifter connected to said tumbler toengage said pawl, at the complemove said pawl into engagement with saidratchet, and means connected to said ratchet for disabling the tumblerfrom shifting the pawl.

17 The combination of a prime mover, a tumbler, a yielding linkextending from the prime mover to said tumbler to operate the latter, avoltmeter having a movable needle, a tactor caused by said tumbler tobeat into and out of the path of the needle, said tactor having means toarrest said tumbler, the tumbler being free to complete its movementwhen the tactor is arrested by the needle,

and a regulating device controlled by said tumbler during the completionof the movement of the latter.

18. The combination of a prime mover, a tumbler, a yielding linkextending from the prime mover to said tumbler to operate the latter,said link having a notch, and one -of said tumbler and prime" moverelements havin a wrist, a spring yieldingly holding said ink! notch inengagement with the wrist, a, voltmeter having a movable needle, atactor caused by said tumbler to beat into and out of the path of theneedle, said tacton having means to arrest said tumbler, and the notchin said link being provided with an inclined edge, to permit the primemover to complete its stroke after the tumbler is arrested by thetactor, the tumbler being free to complete its movement when the tactoris arrested by the needle, anda regulating device controlled by saidtumbler during the completion of the movement of the latter.

19. The combination with an electrical heating apparatus, of a movableindicator to show the temperature of the apparatus, a rheostat includedin a circuit with said ap paratus, a pawl and ratchet for operating saidrheostat, said pawl normally ineffective, a prime mover having means todip repeatedly into the pathof said indicator, means controlled by thecooperation of said dipping part and said indicator, to cause said pawlto be operated by said prime mover to adjust said rheostat, and meansfor rendering the pawl ineffective at the conclusion of the adjustmentof the rheostat.

20. The combination of a movable indicator, a pair of tactors, aratchet, a prime mover tending repeatedly to operate said ratchet, apair of sears connected to said tactors, one tactor to each sear, eachsear being effective, at the movement of its tactor into the path ofsaid indicator, to prevent the operation of said ratchet in onedirection by said prime mover, a regulating device adjustable by saidratchet, and means to cooperate with said ratchet for rendering eitherone tactor or the other effective, and also to reverse the direction inwhich the prime mover can be effective upon said a regulating device,and means rendered eflective by. the cooperation of said needle withsaid dipping members to effect operative connection between saidprime-mover and said regulating device to adjust the same step-by-stepin alternative directions, and to disconnect the regulating device fromthe prime-mover at the conclusion of the travel of the regulating devicein either direction.

22. The combination of a prime mover, a regulating device, a normallydisconnected connecting means from said prime mover to said regulatingdevice, a tumbler, a device yieldingly connected to said prime mover andtending to render said connecting means effective, a movable indicator,tactors, either of which may be caused by said tumbler to beat into andout of the path of said indicator while the other tactor remains idle,means to enable the active tactor, only when dipping into the path ofthe indicator, to restrain such tumbler and prevent full oper ationthereof, whereby when the active tactor is arrested by contact with saidindimentioned device to render either one tactor' or the othereffective, and to determine in which direction said regulating deviceshall be adjusted by said'prime mover.

23. The combination of a movable indi cator, a pair of tactors, aratchet, a prime,

mover tending repeatedly to operate said ratchet, a pair of searsconnected to said tactors, one tactor to each sear, each sear beingeffective, at the movement of its tactor into the path of said indicatorto prevent the operation of said ratchet by said prime mover, aregulating device adjustable by said ratchet, and means forenabling-said ratchet to render either one tactor or the othereffective, and also to reverse the direction in which the prime movercould be effective upon said ratchet, and also to effect disconnectionbetween the prime mover and the ratchet at the conclusion of the travelof the latter in either direction.

24. The combination of a main electrical circuit, a current regulator'insaid circuit, an independent circuit, a voltmeter having a movableneedle and a scale therefor and included in said independent circuit, a'work device whose condition affects the current flowing in saidindependent circuit, said work device included in said main circuit, amember caused to dip repeatedly into the path of said needle, meansconnected to said dipping member and jointly controlled by said needleand said dipping member, for adjusting said current regulator; saidneedle movable past said dipping member; and means for adjusting thepoint'in the path of the needle at which it shall cooperate with saiddipping member.

25. The combination of a minor electrical circuit, a movable needletherein, a primemoving mechanism, two members, means for connecting saidtwo members to said primemoving mechanism so that either may be silencedwhile the other is caused to dip repeatedly into the path of saidneedle, a main electrical circuit, a regulating device therefor, andmeans rendered effective by the cooperation of said needle with saiddipping members, to effect operative connection be-. tween saidprime-mover and said regulating device to adjust the same in alternativedirections.

26. The combination of a main electrical circuit, a current regulator insaid circuit, an electrically operated apparatus also included in saidcircuit, an independent electrical circuit having a part affected by thecondition of said work apparatus, a voltmeter in said independentcircuit and having a movable needle or the like, means inclusive of amember caused to dip repeatedly and frequently into the path of saidneedle for ad usting said current re ulator; said needle being freelymovable 1n opposite directions past said work-apparatus, said voltmeterincluded in said independent circuit, a member caused to dip repeatedlyand frequently into the path of said needle, adjustable means forselectively varying the point in the path of the needle at which saiddipping member shall operate, and means connected to said dipping memberand rendered effective by the cooperation of said needle and saiddipping member, for adjusting said. current regulator.

28. The combination of a main electrical circuit, a current regulator, awork-apparatus operated by the current flowing through said circuit, avoltmeter having a movable needle, an independent circuit affected bysaid work-apparatus, said voltmeter included in said independentcircuit, a member caused to dip repeatedly and frequently into the pathof said needle, adjustable means for selectively varying the point inthe path of the needle at which said dipping member shall operate, andmeans connected to said dipping member and rendered effective by thecooperation of said needle and said dipping member, for adjusting saidcurrent regulator; a scale being provided to coiiperate with said needleand with said adjustable means; and said needle being movable freelypast said dipping member.

29. The combination of a current regulator, a voltmeter having a movableneedle, a member caused to dip repeatedly and frequently into the pathof said needle, a mechanism settable into operation to adjust saidregulator step by step, and means connected to said dipping member andrendered effective by the engagement of said dipping member and needle,for setting said adjusting mechanism into operation to effect a seriesof step-by-step adjustments of said regulator.

30. The combination of a current regulator, afvoltmeter having a movableneedle,

a member caused todip repeatedly and fre-' quently into the path of saidneedle, a mechanism settable into operation to adjust said regulatorstep by step, and means connected to'- said dipping member and renderedefl'ective by the engagement of said dipping member and needle, forsetting said adjusting mechanism into operation to effect a series ofstep-by-step adjustments of said regulator; said needle being movablepast said dipping member.

31. The combination with an electrical heating apparatus, of a movableindicator to show the temperature of the apparatus, a prime mover, meansconnected therewith to dip repeatedly into the path of said indicator, arheostat, a step-by-step rheostat-opcrating mechanism set into repeatedaction by means of the engagement of said dipping part and saidindicator, and having means to control the electrical current to saidheating apparatus; said indicator movable past said dipping part, ascale for said 15 indicator and means for adjusting the point in thetravel of the indicator at which said dipping part shall cooperatetherewith.

GEORGE MACHLET, JR. Witnesses:

SAMUEL R. OGDEN, PHILIP O. OSTEBMAN.

